Chartiers man arraigned on sex assault charges after hospital release

By Kathie Warco

Staff Writer

Jim McNutt / Observer-Reporter

Gary Bates, 43, of 611 Railroad St., Chartiers Township, is escorted by constables to the office of District Judge David Mark in Canonsburg to be arraigned on charges stemming from alleged sexual assaults of a 13-year-old girl and 19-year-old woman.
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A Chartiers Township man who apparently stabbed himself as township police went to his home to arrest him on charges he sexually assaulted three teenage girls was arraigned Wednesday after his release from a Pittsburgh hospital.

Township police also filed additional charges this week against Bates and his co-defendant, Kimberly Louise Campbell, for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in January. Campbell is accused of giving the teen a drink that made her nauseous, so she had to lie down. Bates then reportedly fondled her and bit her thighs.

Police went to their home July 31 to take them into custody. Campbell, 37, also of 611 Railroad, was arrested without incident. Bates, who was upstairs in the two-story home, came downstairs and revealed what was apparently a self-inflicted knife wound to the abdomen. He was taken to UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh.

Campbell is accused of giving the 19-year-old vodka mixed with a soft drink April 1 and removing her clothes. Bates is accused of touching her inappropriately and forcing her to engage in a sex act.

The two are also accused in the June 11 sexual assault of the 13-year-old girl. Campbell is accused of telling the girl to stop screaming as Bates allegedly fondled her.

Both are charged with aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors. Bates is also charged with attempted sexual assault.

Mark set Bates’ bond at $300,000.

Still wearing a hospital gown during his arraignment, Bates said “I have no idea” when Mark asked him if he understood the proceedings. But he then nodded when asked if he understood the charges filed against him.

“You’ve got a lot going on,” Mark told Bates.

Campbell, who is in jail on $200,000 awaiting a preliminary hearing on the initial charges, was also arraigned via video on the new charges. Mark set an additional $100,000 bond.